Flipkart, which has so far maintained its silence in the rancourous debate over net neutrality, on Wednesday offered up its support for the idea.Krithika Krishnamurthy | ET Bureau | December 31, 2015, 07:51 IST

Flipkart, which has so far maintained its silence in the rancourous debate over net neutrality, on Wednesday offered up its support for the idea.BENGALURU: Flipkart, which has so far maintained its silence in the rancourous debate over net neutrality, on Wednesday offered up its support for the idea that all content on the internet should be treated equally but stayed away from commenting about a Facebook programme which has come in for heavy criticism from advocates of a free and open internet.

“Absence of net neutrality will affect web innovations and create digital inequality in India,” India’s most valuable startup said in a statement. “We believe that the spirit of net neutrality should apply equally to all companies in India.”

Flipkart’s moves have been watched closely because of the company’s influence among startups, as well as a decision by the online retailer in April to pull out of a scheme by telecom operator Airtel which would have allowed users free-of-charge access to its app. It is also taking place in the backdrop of consultation that has been opened by the telecom regulator on “differential pricing” for data access. Facebook’s Free Basics programme to provide free-of-cost access to dozens of sites in a tie up with Reliance Communications has been met with resistance from critics who argue that it violates the principle of net neutrality. The social networking giant contests the argument and says instead that its aim is to expand the reach of the internet for everyone and promote “digital equality.”

Facebook has mounted an aggressive campaign for Free Basics after a similar initiative known as Internet.org was stalled after a fierce backlash from those who believe that the programme violates net neutrality. Founder Mark Zuckerberg himself has taken the lead with the Free Basics push, personally lobbying with prominent startup founders and government officials. “I think a lot of ecommerce firms are on the fence on Free Basics. Because if they sign on, Free Basics can give them phenomenal reach,” said Guhesh Ramanathan, cofounder of Excubator, a startup incubator in Bengaluru.

Among those who have been vocal about the demand for an open internet is mobile marketplace cofounder Paytm’s Vijay Shekhar Sharma. On Tuesday, Zuckerberg spoke to Sharma to make his case for Free Basics but the startup founder was not persuaded by the arguments advanced by one of the world’s most powerful internet entrepreneurs.

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